U.S. patent number 5,699,684 [Application Number 08/700,169] was granted by the patent office on 1997-12-23 for bicycle security mount.
Invention is credited to John R. Sulin.
United States Patent |
5,699,684 |
Sulin |
December 23, 1997 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Bicycle security mount
Abstract
A bicycle security mount which includes a base and a pair of
spaced supporting arms extending outwardly from the base. Each
supporting arm has a threaded aperture for receiving a bolt. A
shield is mounted on each bolt. Each shield has a bore and a
counterbore. The shank of the bolt extends freely through the bore
and lies entirely within the counterbore of the shield. The tines
of the front fork of a bicycle are positioned on the security
mounts so that the tines straddle the supporting arms. Each tine is
positioned between a supporting am and a shield. The bolt lies
within the downwardly facing open ended slot of the tine so that
the tine is clamped between the shield and the supporting arm. The
clearance between the bolt and the inner surface of the counterbore
is too small to receive a conventional socket wrench but large
enough to receive a socket wrench which is specifically designed
for the bicycle security mount. More specifically, the bicycle
security mount includes a cap for each shield. Each cap includes a
head portion which has a socket for receiving the shield and a
connecting arm portion. Each connecting arm portion has a hole.
When the caps are mounted on their respective shields, the ends of
the connecting arm portions overlap and the holes in the connecting
arms are axially aligned with one another and axially aligned with
the hole in a bracket which extends between the supporting
arms.
Inventors: |
Sulin; John R. (Fitchburg,
MA) |
Family
ID: |
24812449 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/700,169 |
Filed: |
August 20, 1996 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
70/234; 211/5;
224/924; 248/551; 70/232; 70/DIG.57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62H
3/00 (20130101); Y10S 224/924 (20130101); Y10S
70/57 (20130101); Y10T 70/5867 (20150401); Y10T
70/5876 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B62H
3/00 (20060101); B62H 005/06 (); E05B 071/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;70/62,229,230,231,232,233-235,DIG.57 ;280/304.1 ;248/551,552,553
;211/5 ;224/924 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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800104 |
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Sep 1950 |
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DE |
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837323 |
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Apr 1952 |
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DE |
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Primary Examiner: Gall; Lloyd A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Blodgett & Blodgett, P.C.
Claims
The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new
and desired to secure by letters patent is:
1. A bicycle security mount for a bicycle having a two-tined fork
which has a forwardly facing open ended slot in each tine, said
bicycle security mount comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) securing means for securing the base to a fixed support;
(c) a first supporting arm fixed to the base, said first supporting
arm having a first threaded aperture;
(d) a second supporting arm fixed to the base and spaced from said
first supporting arm, said second supporting arm having a second
threaded aperture which is axially aligned with said first threaded
aperture;
(e) a first bolt having a polygonal head and a threaded shank which
is threaded into said first aperture;
(f) a second bolt having a polygonal head and a threaded shank
which is threaded into said second aperture;
(g) a first shield mounted on said first bolt, said first shield
having a bore which is narrower than the head of said first bolt
and a counterbore which is wider and longer than the head of said
first bolt, said first shield being positioned on said first bolt
so that the shank of said first bolt extends freely through the
bore of said first shield and the head of said first bolt lies
within the counterbore of said first shield;
(h) a second shield mounted on said second bolt, said second shield
having a bore which is narrower than the head of said second bolt
and a counterbore which is wider and longer than the head of said
second bolt, said second shield being positioned on said second
bolt so that the shank of said second bolt extends freely through
the bore of said second shield and the head of said second bolt
lies within the counterbore of said second shield; and
(i) said first and second supporting arms being spaced so that the
tines of a wheelless front fork of a bicycle can straddle said
first and second supporting arms and so that the shanks of said
first and second bolts extend into the open ended slots of the
front fork and the tines of the front fork are positioned
respectively between said first and second arms and the said first
and second shields, the heads of said first and second bolts lying
entirely within the respective counterbores of said first and
second shields when said fork is applied to the shank of said first
and second bolts and said first and second bolts are tightened to
clamp said front fork between said first and second supporting arms
and said first and second shields, each of said counterbores having
a diameter which is greater than the width of said first and second
bolts, said diameter being too small to receive a conventional
socket wrench but large enough to receive a socket wrench which is
specifically designed for said bicycle security mount.
2. A bicycle security mount as recited in claim 1, further
comprising a bracket which is fixed to said base and which has a
hole for receiving a locking mechanism for securing the front wheel
of the bicycle to said bracket.
3. A bicycle security mount as recited in claim 2, wherein said
bracket extends between said first and second supporting arms.
4. A bicycle security mount as recited in claim 3, further
comprising:
(a) a first cap which has a first connecting arm portion and a
first head portion, said first head portion having a socket for
receiving said first shield, said first connecting arm portion
having a hole which is aligned with the hole of said bracket when
said first shield lies within the socket of said first head
portion; and
(b) a second cap which has a second connecting arm portion and a
second head portion, said second head portion having a socket for
receiving said second shield, said second connecting arm portion
having a hole which is aligned with the hole of said bracket when
said second shield lies within the socket of said second head
portion, thereby enabling said locking mechanism to extend through
the holes in said bracket and said first and second connecting arm
portions to lockingly maintain said first and second caps in a
covering position on said first and second shields,
respectively.
5. A bicycle security mount as recited in claim 1, further
comprising:
(a) a first cap which has a first connecting arm portion and a
first head portion, said first head portion having a socket for
receiving said first shield, said first connecting arm portion
having a hole; and
(b) a second cap which has a second connecting arm portion and a
second head portion, said second head portion having a socket for
receiving said second shield, said second connecting arm portion
having a hole which is aligned with the hole of said first
connecting arm portion when said first shield lies within the
socket of said first head portion and said second shield lies
within the socket of said second head portion, so that a locking
mechanism can extend through the holes of said first and second
connecting arm portions to lockingly maintain said first and second
caps in a covering position on said first and second shields,
respectively.
6. A bicycle security mount as recited in claim 5, wherein each of
said first and second connecting arm portions has an inner surface
which faces said first and second supporting arms and an outer
surface which faces away from said first and second supporting
arms, each of said first and second connecting arms portions having
a free end, one of said first and second connecting arms portions
having a recess in its inner surface adjacent its free end and the
other of said first and second connecting arm portions having a
recess in its outer surface so that the recessed portions of said
inner and outer surfaces overlap and abut.
7. A bicycle security mount as recited in claim 5, wherein each of
said first and second connecting arm portions has a free end
portion which contains its hole, the free end portion of said first
connecting arm portion overlapping the free end portion of said
second connection arm portion so that the holes in said free end
portions are aligned, the free end portion of said first connecting
arm being offset relative to said second connecting arm portion
along a central longitudinal axis of said holes so that the sockets
of said first and second caps are axially aligned.
8. A bicycle security mount as recited in claim 1, wherein said
base has a first hole aligned with said first shield and a second
hole aligned with said second shield, and wherein said securing
means comprises fasteners extending through said first and second
holes, said fasteners being engageable by an appropriate tool for
removably securing said base to a fixed support when said first and
second shields and said first and second bolts are removed from
first and second supporting arms, said fasteners being inaccessible
to said tool for removing said fasteners when the front fork of a
bicycle is clamped between said first and second shield and said
first and second supporting arms.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for securely looking a
bicycle to a fixed support or stand.
Many types of systems have been developed for supporting bicycles
they are being transported, or at a fixed location. Most supporting
means also have provisions for enabling the bicycle to be lockingly
secured to a fixed support. A typical looking means includes a
bicycle cable look which can be looped through a portion of the
bicycle, such as the frame, and an aperture or ring which forms
part of the fixed support. The chain or cable includes a
combination look or a key operated look for securing the cable look
in a closed loop. This type of looking arrangement prevents
unauthorized use or theft of the bicycle in most circumstances.
Impulsive or opportunistic theft is prevented. However, the cable
or chain does not deter theft by a sophisticated or professional
thief. Anyone who is specifically looking to steal a bicycle will
have a cable cutter to cut the cable.
Other bicycle looking systems employ a padlock which includes a
hasp that extends through a portion of the bicycle and an aperture
in the support. The padlock can also be cut with a cable cutter.
These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art bicycle
supports have been obviated by the present invention.
It is, therefore, a principle object of the present invention to
provide a bicycle support or mount which prevents unauthorized
removal of the bicycle from the mount.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a bicycle
security mount which can be used in conjunction with a padlock or
standard cable look to provide two levels of security.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a bicycle
security mount which is removably attached to a fixed support, but
which cannot be removed when a bicycle is secured to the mount.
It is another object of the invention to provide a bicycle security
mount which is simple in construction, easy to use, and capable of
a long life of useful service.
With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those
skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of
parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims
appended hereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general, the invention consists of a bicycle security mount
which includes a base and a pair of spaced supporting arms
extending outwardly from the base. Each supporting arm has a
threaded aperture for receiving a bolt. A shield is mounted on each
bolt. Each shield has a bore which is narrower than the head of the
bolt and a counterbore which is wider and longer than the head of
the bolt. The shank of the bolt extends freely through the bore and
lies entirely within the counterbore of the shield. The tines of
the front fork of a bicycle are positioned on the security mount so
that the tines straddle the supporting arms. Each tine is
positioned between a supporting arm and a shield. The bolt lies
within the downwardly facing open ended slot of the tine so that
the tine is clamped between the shield and the supporting arm. The
clearance between the bolt and the inner surface of the counterbore
is too small to receive a conventional socket wrench but large
enough to receive a socket wrench which is specifically designed
for the bicycle security mount of the present invention. More
specifically, the bicycle security mount of the present invention
includes a cap for each shield. Each cap includes a head portion
which has a socket for receiving the shield and a connecting arm
portion. Each connecting arm portion has a hole. When the caps are
mounted on their respective shields, the ends of the connecting arm
portions overlap and the holes in the connecting arms are axially
aligned with one another and axially aligned with the hole in a
bracket which extends between the supporting arms. This enables the
shackle of a padlock to be inserted through the holes in the
connecting arm portions and the bracket and also enables a
conventional bicycle cable lock to be inserted through the holes
also for securing the front wheel of the bicycle to the bicycle
security mount.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by
reference to one of its structural forms, as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a bicycle security mount of
the present invention shown mounted on a fixed support and secured
to the front fork of a conventional bicycle;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bicycle security mount;
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof;
FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view thereof;
FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view thereof, with the cap
portion of the mount removed;
FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the bicycle security
mount, taken along line VI--VI and looking in the direction of the
arrow;
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the bicycle security mount with the
caps, shields, and the bolts which are associated with the shields
removed;
FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the right hand cap;
FIG. 9 is an end view of the cap, looking in the direction of arrow
IX of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a from elevational view of the left hand cap;
FIG. 11 is an end view of the left hand end cap, looking in the
direction of arrow XI of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the right hand shield;
FIG. 13 is an end view of the right hand shield, looking in the
direction of arrow XIII of FIG. 12; and
FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the right hand bolt.
DETAILS OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring first to FIG. 1, the bicycle security mount of the
present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral
15 and is showed fixedly mounted on a fixed support 16 and secured
to a conventional bicycle, generally indicated by the reference
numeral 17. The bicycle 17 includes a framework, generally
indicated by the reference numeral 19, a rear Wheel 24 and a from
wheel 26. The frame 19 includes a from fork 18 which has a pair of
tines 20 at the lower end of the fork. Each tine 20 has a
downwardly facing open ended slot 22. In some bicycles, the slot 22
faces downwardly and rearwardly. The front wheel 26 of the bicycle
is secured to the bicycle security mount by any conventional
bicycle locking cable or chain, generally indicated by the
reference numeral 27, in a manner to be described.
Referring to FIGS. 2-7, the bicycle security mount 15 includes a
base 28, first and second spaced supporting arms 30 and 32
extending upwardly from the base, and a bracket 34 which extends
between the supporting arms 30 and 32. The base 28 has a pair of
holes 36 and 38 for receiving fasteners such as screws 40 for
securing the base to a fixed support, such as the support 16 shown
in FIG. 1. The bracket 34 has a hole 42. The arm 30 has a first
threaded aperture 44. The arm 32 has a second threaded aperture 46
which is axially aligned with the aperture 44. In the preferred
embodiment of the invention, each aperture 44 and 46 contains a
threaded insert.
Referring FIGS. 2-6 and 14, the bicycle security mount 15 also
includes a first bolt which is generally indicated by the reference
numeral 48 and a second bolt which is generally indicated by the
reference numeral 50. The second bolt 50 is identical to the first
bolt 48 which is illustrated in FIG. 14. Each of the bolts 48 and
50 includes a threaded shank portion 52 which is threaded into the
apertures 44 and 46 and a hexagonal head portion 54. A first shield
56 is mounted on the bolt 48. A second shield 58 is mounted on the
bolt 50. The first shield 56 is illustrated more clearly in FIGS.
12 and 13 and is identical to the shield 58. Each of the shields 56
and 58 has a bore 60 which is substantially smaller than the
hexagonal head portion 54 of the bolt and the counterbore 62 is
substantially larger than the hexagonal head portion 54. The shank
portion 52 of the bolt extends through the bore 60 from the
counterbore end of the shield and its head portion 54 fully lies
entirely within the counterbore 62. The spacing between the head
portion 54 and the inner cylindrical surface which defines the
counterbore 62 is too small to receive a conventional socket wrench
of a size which would normally engage a hexagonal bolt head, such
as head portion 54. However, the counterbore 62 is large enough to
receive a socket wrench which is specifically designed for use with
the bicycle security mount of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 2-4 and 8-11, the bicycle security mount 15 of
the present invention also includes a first cap, generally
indicated by the reference numeral 64, and a second cap, generally
indicated by the reference numeral 66. The first cap 64 includes a
first head portion 68 and a first connecting arm portion 70. The
head portion 68 has a socket 72 for receiving the first shield 56.
The second head portion 78 has a socket 82 for receiving the second
shield 58. The forwardly facing surface of the first connecting arm
portion 70 has a recessed portion 74 adjacent the free end of the
connecting arm portion and a hole 76 at the recessed portion 74.
The second cap 66 has a second head portion 78 and a second arm
portion 80. The second head portion 78 has a socket 82 for
receiving the second shield 58. The rearwardly facing surface of
the second connecting arm portion 80 has recessed portion 84
adjacent the free end thereof and a hole 86 at the recessed portion
84. When the first and second head portion 68 and 78, respectively,
are positioned on the first and second shields 56 and 58,
respectively, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the recessed portions 74
and 84 abut so that the hole 76 and 86 are aligned with each and
with the hole 42 in the bracket 34.
OPERATION OF THE INVENTION
The operation and advantages of the present invention will now be
readily understood in view of the above description. A bicycle,
such as bicycle 17, is secured to the bicycle security mount 15 of
the present invention by first removing the front wheel 26 of the
bicycle so that the tines 20 of the front fork 18 are free. The
tines 20 are positioned outside of the first and second supporting
arms 30 and 32. One tine is between arm 30 and shield 56. The other
fine is between arm 32 and shield 58 so that the shanks 52 of the
bolts 48 and 50 extend into the downwardly facing or downwardly and
rearwardly facing open ended slots 22 of the tines 20. Prior to
insertion of the tines 20, the bolts 48 and 50 are loosened so that
the space between each of the shields 56 and 58 and its respective
supporting arm is slightly greater than the thickness of the tines
20. Thereafter, the bolts 48 and 50 are tightened by a special
socket wrench which is designed to fit into the counterbore 62 of
each shield and drivingly engaging the hexagonal head 54.
Tightening of each of bolts 48 and 50 causes each of the shields 36
and 58 to advance towards its respective supporting arm and to
clamp the fines 20 positioned therebetween so that the front fork
18 of the bicycle is securely held on the bicycle security
stand.
The caps 64 and 66 are secured to the bracket 34 by inserting the
shackle of a padlock through the hole 76, 86, and 42. The caps 64
and 66 may also be secured to the bracket 34 by inserting one free
end of a conventional bicycle chain through the holes 76, 86, and
42 and also around the rim of the front tire 26 and then coupled
with the other free end of the chain by a conventional padlock,
thus, securing the front wheel 26 to the bicycle frame. The caps 64
and 66 cover the opening to the counterbores 62 of the shields 56
and 58, respectively, to prevent access to the counterbores and to
the heads 54 of the bolts by any tool. If a would be thief is
equipped with a cutting tool which is capable of cutting the cable
lock, the caps 64 and 66 can be removed. However, since the
counterbores 62 are hidden by the caps 64 and 66 the inaccessible
nature of the shields 56 and 58 is unanticipated by the thief. The
thief will be unprepared to deal with the fact that a socket was
required and even more unlikely to be prepared to deal with the
fact that a specialized socket wrench is also required.
The base 28 can be removably applied to any supporting structure
which is provided with threaded apertures for receiving the bolts
40. However, once that a bicycle is secured to the bicycle security
mount 15 of the present invention, the supporting base 28 cannot be
removed, since access to the bolts 40 is blocked by the shields 56
and 58 alone or in combination with the caps 64 and 66,
respectively. The holes 36 and 38 lie directly beneath the shield
56 and 58, respectively, when they are in clamping position on the
bolts 48 and 50, respectively.
* * * * *